Indian football: Real boring stuff

There seems to be nothing extraordinary happening with Indian football these days that I should jot down my thoughts on them. Nothing seems to be quite exciting, really. It’s that same slow baby steps which the Federation has been taking ever since the new secretary took over in November last year. No big strides as such as far as ideas are concerned. The national team recently lost 0-3 against UAE at Al Ain last week. Another disappointment in a World Cup qualifier. I’ve grown up reading about India’s debacles in the first round. It’s a difficult path. But then is it worth taking a dip in the competitive Asian qualifiers which has 50-plus teams? I don’t think so. Many would support me as well. After all, spending huge on a project (World Cup qualifiers) which doesn’t seem to generate much revenue or interest is nothing but a huge waste of money. Is there someone in the AIFF to guide the ship? I guess, all seems to be doing a routine 10-5 job. Hardly anyone has come up with a management skill. Even the status of I-League clubs have been treated with half-hearted approach.

Now the national team is in the Capital. They will take on UAE in a home-match on Thursday. But everybody knows India doesn’t stand a chance against the Gulf nation who has somehow qualified for the second round. Despite the 3-0 loss, Armando Colaco still can press his claim to be someone who has prevented a rout. But his grouse against the referee for those two penalties which cost India the game last Saturday, however, won’t reduce our pain. The Goan coach is still praising his number one goalkeeper Subrata Pal, who was booked for his foul on the UAE player Ismail Al Hammadi in the 24th minute. Pal, many feel, was quite arrogant when he pushed Hammadi. A sharp reminder to his tempestuous goalkeeping during that ill-fated Federation Cup final against Dempo in 2004 when his outstretched fists hit the late Junior, who collapsed and died on the field.

In a nutshell, there isn’t too many interesting things happening in Indian football which surprisingly lacking a character. Besides, (Indian) football writers are now disenchanted due to the recent performances which it seems have pushed the game a few yards back.

Armando's Dempo promotion with national team!

Armando Colaco selected a 30-member squad on Tuesday for Indian football team’s upcoming friendlies against Maldives and Qatar. Yet, the roster failed to impress the aficionados who felt that the team genuinely lack a spark. Moreover, why he dropped Viva Kerala’s Anil Kumar who has scored 11 goals, the second highest by an Indian after Jeje Lalpekhula in the I-League last season. There was no reason or rhyme. But Armando couldn’t explain the omission of Anil and inclusion of out-of-form Sushil Singh. “He (Anil) hasn’t come into the groove which we wanted,” was what said Armando, who it seems is out there to promote Dempo club.

Nobody has a clue as to why he has packed the squad with seven Dempo players and decided to go with one player from I-League winners Salgaocar. Besides, in a surprise move, Armando has put Salgaocar's Anthony Barbosa along with Anil in the standbyes. Other Salgaocar players, Locus Lamare, Gilberto Oliviera and Khelemba Singh failed to make it because of a delay in their passport renewal.

Though he has given chances to most players who were ignored by Bob Houghton during his term as coach, yet it doesn't augur well for Indian football. Has the interim coach forgot that he is there because AIFF has picked him and not by employers Dempo? By keeping out Salgaocar players shows that he has taken the Goan rivalry into the Indian team.

Nobody expected such a move from a man who has been hailed as the best club coach in recenty years. Managing a club team and organising a national team are two different things, Armando must be aware of it. He cannot put half-fit Dempo players like Mahesh Gawli or Climax Lawrence (who is not in his best) in this team.